Table of contents for 8 November 2017 in MCN

Pure gold The S model gets Öhlins semi-active suspension front and rear, linked to next-gen electronic control from the 6D IMU Anchor-lite Brembo’s tiny Stylema calipers make their debut on the V4. They’re 70g lighter than the M50s, and machined from solid Dash it There’s an all-new 5in full-TFT, high-res, high-brightness colour display, with a new layout and virtual tacho display Total control The Panigale now boasts slide control, allowing riders to get on the gas and drift out of corners like a MotoGP god Ducati superbikes have long been defined by their resolute gun-sticking V-twin format, with the pursuit of chassis perfection and light weight over multi-cylinder peak power. But this bike, the new Panigale V4, changes everything. Or does it? It still looks rather familiar, the name is…

Based on the existing Dragster RR, the new Reparto Corse is a race replica for fans who just can’t get enough of MV excess. It inherits all the benefits of the new RR – including the three-cylinder Euro4-compliant engine and electronics package. MV say they’ve given it its own engine maps to complement a tweaked version of their 8-level traction control, and the EAS2.0 (up/down quickshifter) has also been tuned for faster and slicker shifts. • Power 138bhp @ 12,500rpm • Weight 168kg • Seat height 820mm…

Following the unveiling of Kawasaki’s new naked retro roadster, the Z900RS (below), at the Tokyo Motor Show last month, the firm have now revealed the anticipated Café Racer version that’s based on the naked. Tracing its roots back to the Super Four model Z1 of 1972, it also gets a KR250/500-style bold and lairy green and white paintjob to ensure that you really stand out from the crowd. And no – there aren’t other colour options on offer. The big changes, beyond the obvious small headlamp cowl, are a more scalloped lower seat, and drop-bars to create a more canted-forward riding position to help encourage sportier progress. So far, so good – but the missing element we’d hoped to see was a set of laced rims to complete the café…

For bikers stepping up from a 125, it’s one hell of a leap to the CB1000R, so here’s the CB300R – a distillation of the Neo Sports Café concept. As well as mimicking the style of the big bike, the CB300R also has some nice components including a 41mm USD fork, a radial front brake with hubless disc, LCD dash, LED lighting and an IMU-based ABS. This is Honda’s first naked of this size to come to the UK, but the A2 market is crowded and the 31bhp of CB 300R might be outshone by others going for the full 46.6bhp permitted. At least it looks almost as good as the CB 1000R. • Power 30.9bhp @ 8500rpm • Weight 143kg (kerb) • Seat height 799mm…

Brough Superior are still very much the Rolls Royce of motorcycles, and with the full production SS100 MK2 now on sale in the UK, the firm is genuinely back in business. But just as we’ve become used to their bold modern interpretation of the vintage Brough styling that makes the SS100 stand out in any crowd, the firm have created an even bolder new bike for 2018 – the Pendine Sand Racer. The new Sand Racer is a wild reimagining of the SS100, sharing the same engine, but using a de-strapped tank, super-aggressive boat-tail seat unit, and a small nose cowl to dip your head behind, and gorgeous slash-cut exhausts. It also gets its own swingarm which runs a linkage-free right-sided monoshock. It comes on Michelin Anakee III tyres (19in…

The MT range has been an enormous success for Yamaha thanks to a pair of great engines, fantastic styling and competitive pricing. For 2018 they’ve improved the range even further with an update on the MT-07 and the addition of the MT-09 SP. The MT-07 is one of Yamaha’s bestselling models due to its lively 698cc crossplane engine, so they’ve done the sensible thing and left it well alone. Instead they’ve refreshed the styling to make it look a little more like the MT-09. The riding position has been improved with a new saddle that has been reprofiled and extended to the sides of the tank. The only let down with the MT-07 was its suspension, which Yamaha have improved: the forks have been revised for a sportier character while…

The two stars of BMW’s show are the new F750GS and F850GS, which bring styling cues from the old F700 and F800, but little else. At the heart of these new bikes is a shared 853cc parallel-twin (detuned in the F750GS), that’s gone through more than just a capacity increase. The engine has been completely redesigned with a new crank and 270-degree firing order, so it’s got that V-twin noise. Paired with this new engine is a new electronics package that includes Road and Rain riding modes plus optional Pro modes that include Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro (F850GS only). Keeping all that in check is a brand new steel bridge frame plus new suspension for both bikes. For the first time BMW’s electronic ESA suspension, which alters the rear…

‘This needed to be different and we’re always willing to take a risk’ So why’s it called Chicken Dinner? Steve Willis I always liked the term in sport for winning, and winning is what it’s about. But actually the name comes from Vegas where a chicken dinner with potatoes and veg was $1.79, while a standard bet when I went was $2, so if you won you could afford a chicken dinner. In my twisted way of looking at things I would say that customising an Iron is affordable, so it’s a way of having a gamble and having your dinner too. It’s a way of having something really cool, really individual, and something that really looks the part. What’s gone into this build? SW We have tried to reinvent…

Rossi needs to race Rossi’s ‘stupid stuff’ verdict on that crazy race at Phillip Island was a bit rich. I don’t remember any such comments when he cut across the dirt when overtaking Stoner at the Corkscrew. He’s a fantastic racer, but also a great whinger. The young guns in most sports have more balls than the old boys, Rossi should stick to what he’s good at and race them, not moan about them. The Australian GP was great, as was the rest of the season. Roll on Valencia. Paul Norris, Maidstone, Kent Ed – Who’s your money on for the title? See this weeek’s poll (right) Why bike sport is best What an excellent advert for motorbike racing the Phillip Island MotoGP round was. Not only the race itself…

‘You can make the most of every degree of throttle movement’ TIDDLER Sixty2 The unassuming Sixty2 is the hidden gem in the Scrambler range. It may pack a smaller punch, but that doesn’t make it any less charming. Designed to attract younger riders, the Sixty2 comes with a 399cc version of the desmo V-twin that produces an A2-legal 39bhp. To keep costs down (at £6750 it is £1100 less than the Icon) the motor has slightly different internals, the brakes are two-piston sliding units and the swingarm is a tubular steel construction, but despite this the Sixty2 looks anything but budget. From a distance, especially in its cool orange colour, it is every bit a Scrambler. And in some ways it rides even better. Its V-twin is even smoother than…

In 1982 Elspeth Beard became the first English woman to ride around the world. Riding a 1974 BMW R60/6 she suffered mechanical breakdowns, two major accidents, hepatitis, dysentery and a robbery. When Elspeth returned to England in 1984, she’d done 35,000 miles! Many more speakers will be confirmed in the next few weeks and there will be stalls selling everything from the latest adventure kit to ‘turn-key’ escorted motorcycle holidays. Two of the most entertaining and fascinating motorcycle adventurers have been confirmed for this February’s Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show and both will be sharing their exploits and advice live on the Adventure Stage. Ed March has crossed Europe, up to the arctic circle, from Malaysia to the UK and across the Trans American trail, all on a £150…

Strip it down Remove any bodywork to access the shock. If you plan to use a jack, ensure you have a suitable jack point. If so, raise the bike a fraction so the stand acts as a pivot point. Cable tie the front brake lever. Remove the nuts Remove the nuts that secure the linkage. Don’t remove the bolts yet. Note which way it goes back on. Take the weight off your bike’s back wheel and tap out the shock bolt first. Give it a clean Allow the rear wheel to gently drop and if any bolts offer any resistance then drift them out with a punch. Place the removed linkage in a tray and spray with degreaser. Take it apart Inspect the linkage, looking for damage. Remove the rubber…

Fuel economy If you’re kind to it, the engine is good for around 60mpg. This means a tank range of over 200 miles is easily achievable. Ideal for fun commuting. Stator recall There was also a recall for the stator for machines built between 2011 and 2016. Any Kawasaki dealer will be able to check that this has been done. Service intervals Service intervals on older bikes are 3750 miles, but they’re only little things like oil changes. Bikes from 2016-on have been upped to 7500 mile intervals. What we said then “They say you can’t flog a dead horse, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with Suzuki’s V-Strom 650. That may seem harsh, but underneath the new plastics and accessories, you know the rather basic old V-Strom…

‘The new Pirelli tyre performance is just a tenth off race tyres’ Q How important is the new Panigale V4 to Ducati? A We ran a V4 engine in our Desmosedici RR, but that was a special edition (and the Gold Wing-style Apollo, which never made it into production – Ed), but this our first full production V4, so it’s very important. Q Did you want to produce a V4 with the soul of a V-twin? A We’ve kept the same firing order as the MotoGP engine, which fires like a V-twin, so it has a similar behaviour and sound. I’m sure that when customers ride the Panigale V4 they will find a real Ducati with a character similar to the twin. With your eyes closed you can say this…

New wheelbarrow Underseat twin-exit pipes – just like the old Monster 1100 it steals its engine from – look great Tank on The 1100 gets a bigger 15-litre steel teardrop fuel tank with interchangeable aluminium side panels Classy wheeling The base model gets plain black 10-spoke ally wheels, an 18in at the front, and a 17in at the rear Elevenses This is the biggest Scrambler ever built, with the 1079cc air/oil cooled mill from the old 1100EVO, tickled for Euro4 Adding a top tier to the Scrambler family, the 800 and 400 are now joined by this brute – which uses an evolution of the lovely old Monster 1100 EVO engine – one of Ducati’s finest air-cooled V-twins. There are three flavours of 1100 at this first serving – while…

Italian purveyors of exotic metal, MV Agusta, have released a whole range of RC models for 2018. The letters stand for Reparto Corse, or ‘racing division’, and celebrate the firm’s world titles with the number 37 as part of the livery. Just 250 of the new F4 RCs will be built, and the firm are yet to confirm how many pounds the privilege of ownership will cost, but the promised 202.5bhp shouldn’t disappoint. Those horses are all packed into the 998cc Corsa Corta inline four, which boasts a central camchain, and radial valves. The swanky race kit that comes with the bike – in a beautiful wooden packing crate – adds another 9bhp to the party – matching Ducati’s new Panigale V4 Stradale engine. The F4 isn’t the only one…

Despite another incredible year with Johnny Rea taking his third WSB title aboard a Kawasaki ZX-10R, the superbike hasn’t managed to bask in the glory in showrooms. But Kawasaki are hoping this new version will imbue it with some extra pub-bragging kudos. Positioned between the base ZX-10R and the homologation RR version, this new SE gets two key new electronics upgrades to help it take the fight to its well-endowed competitors. The first is the addition of an all-new Showa-developed electronic suspension system, the first to be seen on a Kawasaki. The second is the arrival of a bidirectional quickshifter as standard, allowing seamless up and down shifts above 2500rpm on both road and track. It also benefits from new 7-spoke Marchesini forged wheels, which are lighter than the standard…

After teasing us with the Neo Sports Café concept, Honda have released the CB1000R – a sports derived naked that eschews its RR heritage. The styling is radical - dominated by modernist brushed steel rather than the hyper aggressive plastics of old - but there’s still a beast within. The CB1000R has a new Fireblade derived engine, which delivers 16% more power than the old model and 5% more torque in the midrange. It’s down geared too, meaning it’s quicker than the Fireblade to 80mph. As expected there’s a new exhaust which Honda say emits a raw-edged howl when the exhaust valve opens. Also moving over from the Blade is a new ride-by-wire throttle that has three preset riding modes plus a user customisable one. The CB1000R now comes with…

Honda’s Africa Twin has been a popular seller but it’s been found wanting for serious long distance off-road travel. But fear not, for there’s a new Africa Twin Adventure with a whole lot more promise. For a start the petrol tank has increased by 5.4 litres, which Honda say extends the range to beyond 300 miles. 300 miles in the saddle is a long time, so Honda have flattened the seat and made the riding position more upright. It also comes with heated grips, a power socket and a taller screen all to ease out the miles. If you want to take it off-road there are improvements there too with 22mm more suspension travel (adjustable for rebound and compression damping) and a bigger sump guard plus wider footpegs for increased…

Indian’s Scout and Chieftain ranges have started to gain a strong following – deservedly – while their FTR750 flat track racing programme decimated the establishment in 2017, taking the championship at their first attempt, and 37 of the 54 podium positions available in the 18-round season. That’s impressive – and the FTR750 is a prototype that has no road bike, or engine, to benefit from. And just look at this concept they’ve rolled out in its honour. Ever since the FTR750 debuted, there’s been huge pressure on the firm to back it up with a production bike, and this is the closest indication yet that the Minneapolis massive are tempted. Indian remain coy though, saying this is purely a celebration to mark their race season, while gently hinting that it’s…

Using the hugely popular Bonneville Bobber as its base, the new Speedmaster is a superb reinvention of what used to be a pretty dull bike. The high-torque 1200cc parallel-twin T120 engine drives the party, while the addition of a new rear subframe offers a pillion option for the first time on the Bobber platform – as well as the ability to carry luggage. It gets a lovely set of American boardtracker style ‘beach bars’ to hold on to, which sweep gracefully back from the mounts, and the seat is deeper, softer, and set 15mm higher, at 705mm. Meanwhile, the footrests are forward-mounted for improved distance comfort. More practicality The fuel tank has grown to a more useful 12 litres for greater range between fill-ups, and it gets the DRLenabled LED…

‘Have bike, will travel’ is the message Yamaha are sending out with the new Super Ténéré Raid Edition. Built to go anywhere with lots of kit – even that Nick Sanders chap has one. The Raid Edition expands on the standard model with lots of accessories including a pair of 37 litre aluminium cases. For weather protection there’s a high screen and wind deflectors as well as fog lamps for adventures after dark. To complete the look, it’s also fitted with carbon side panels and a large side plate that protects both the sump and the engine cases. • Power 110bhp @ 7250rpm • Weight n/a • Seat height 845mm…

‘It was the first model on the market to have real MotoGP influence’ Bike sales were soaring and with a mainstream motorcycling public in their late 30s and early 40s, sports-bikes were the order of the day. Manufacturers couldn’t make enough of them, with the biennial updates and new models being developed all the time. MCN had an insatiable appetite for them, too. Each week there was news of scoops featuring the latest bikes under development and head-to-head shootouts of competing models. Most popular were middleweight sportsbikes – which at the time were cheaper and largely more practical than their 1000cc brothers. But that was about to change though – our cover bike was the CBR600RR, the first of the revvy, miniaturised 600s and it was just about to be…

Your utterly hilarious article about the unfortunate KTM test rider crashing while giving your spy photographer the bird (MCN, October 25) caused me to reflect on my own bird flipping experience which is now immortalised on the Google Street View system. While enjoying a chilled out summer ride I spotted the Google street car complete with its high-tech cameras coming down the road and had the presence of mind to ‘flip it the bird’. Several months later my image duly appeared in a rather pleasing fashion on the maps – giving me an online record to be proud of. I wonder if anyone else has such a claim to fame? Joe, email Ed – It’s not big and it’s not clever (but it’s extremely funny all the same!). See Joe’s…

Double European Superstock champion Sylvain Barrier will join Peter Hickman in the Smiths Racing BMW camp for the 2018 British Superbike Championship. The 29-year-old, who won the European Superstock series for BMW in both 2012 and 2013, is relishing the new challenge as he heads to the UK after competing in MotoAmerica this year following two years in World Superbikes. While he admits he’s expecting to struggle with many of the British circuits, he’s already made plans to head to many of the tracks over winter on a road bike for familiarisation, which started at Cadwell Park this past weekend. “I’m really looking forward to competing in BSB in 2017,” he said. “I tested at Cadwell on a road bike this weekend with Peter Hickman there to help, he’ll be…

‘That was big a big head-butt… I thought I was going over the bars’CHAZ DAVIES Despite a monster near crash that almost ended his season in the worst possible way, Chaz Davies was this year’s series runner-up behind Jonathan Rea. That’s not to say he was challenging Rea for the title – a season littered with crashes and some full-on tech failures saw him finish 153 points behind the champion. The Ducati rider was still 30 points up on third-place Tom Sykes when it mattered most. A look at the season stats reveals that Chaz was very much the best of the rest with seven victories compared to two for Sykes and one for Melandri. Davies proved once again that he can beat Rea in a straight fight, and did…

MCE British Superbike frontrunner Jake Dixon will return to Grand Prix racing this weekend at Valencia with a second appearance this season for the Dynavolt Intact Moto2 team. Dixon replaced the injured Marcel Schrotter at the British Grand Prix earlier this year, finishing 20th despite being thrown in at the deep end. And with that under his belt, the Brit says he’s hoping that this weekend will give him a chance to build on his experience with the Suter machine from Silverstone. “Obviously I’m looking forward to Valencia. To have another chance to ride in Moto2 with Dynavolt will be a massive experience again. Hopefully I can give them some more data before going into the winter season to help develop the bike for next year. Basically I want to…

The new Panigale V4 will, rightly, be stealing the limelight as we roar into 2018, but spare a thought for this little beauty. Keeping the tradition of special high-end versions as a model edges closer to being replaced, like the 848 EVO Corse, next year’s range will include this Corse edition 959 Panigale. Special measures Apart from the beautiful paintjob, there are some choice engineering updates to set the Corse apart from the stock model. Essentially an ‘S’ (Ducati don’t make one), the Corse gets the full Öhlins treatment, with a TTX46 rear shock tucked in under your left thigh, and a 43mm NIX30 fork at the sharp end. Refreshingly free of electronic intervention, the perfect road or track setting is just a couple of clicks away. Also added from…

Don’t be fooled by the 2018 Multistrada looking so familiar – the family has been treated to some significant changes. There’s a new engine, now a 1262cc version of the DVT V-twin, with 85% of its torque on tap at 3500rpm. There’s a new ride-by-wire system for smoother throttle response, and an improved bi-directional quickshifter. The chassis also boasts improvements, with a longer swingarm and wheelbase, and revised geometry to improve stability. There’s a new Bluetooth linked app, too - delivering a huge array of information direct to your phone. • Power 155.8bhp @ 9500rpm • Weight 232kg • Seat height 825-845mm • Power 155.8bhp @ 9500rpm • Weight 235kg • Seat height 825-845mm • Power 155.8bhp @ 9500rpm • Weight 236kg • Seat height 825-845mm • Power 155.8bhp @…

Bi-psycho made for two This is the first H2 that can carry a pillion, meaning a stronger subframe was also needed for the SX Pack it in To be a proper distance tool, it had to have luggage. The panniers are by Givi, and hold 28 litres each side A bit less The base model SX loses the dual shifter, TFT dash, cornering lights, braided hoses, launch control and colours Two years have passed since we had our socks forcibly removed by the bonkers Ninja H2, Kawasaki’s game-changing supercharged litre-beater. But while it was sent to wow us, the long game was always about the introduction of production supercharged engines. And this is the first more mass-market destined model to emerge from the project. Still boasting the Ninja H2 moniker,…

Developed with Showa, this new Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS) adds semi-active electronic damping to the SE’s armoury. The system adapts to road and riding conditions, providing the ideal amount of damping, which is adjusted electronically to suit vehicle speed and suspension stroke speed via a solenoid valve with direct actuation. The reaction time is just one millisecond – far quicker than systems that rely on step-motors, or those that use pilot valves. Riders can choose from three suspension modes: Road, Track, and Manual…

Naked 125s are great to get you started but with the exception of the KTM Duke, do very little to get your heart racing. But the new CB125R does just that. Taking all the styling cues from the CB1000R, the little 125 looks the part. Honda say the engine is free-revving and delivers plenty of lowdown grunt that, combined with the low weight, puts a real spring in its step. The rest of the kit is good quality too with a 41mm USD fork and preload adjustable monoshock. Like the 300, it also has a radial front brake, ABS, LCD dash and LED lighting. • Power 13.1bhp @ 10,000rpm • Weight 126kg (kerb) • Seat height 816mm…

Announced at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda’s new Gold Wing has gone on a diet, been stuffed full of new gizmos and had a power boost to boot. The new Wing is much smaller than the old one, with a big reduction in fairing size improving efficiency so much that the four-litre smaller tank has the same range. The luggage has also shrunk but there’s still 110 litres and the top box still holds two lids. The engine is new too, and it’s paired to a new ride-by-wire throttle, with all the associated throttle maps and traction control you’d expect. The suspension is now electronically adjustable (see box), the connectivity has had a boost to include Apple CarPlay and it’s even got a 7-speed DCT gearbox. TECHWATCH The Wing has…

Harley embarked on a revolution earlier in 2017 with the release of a whole new family of Softails that succeeded the old family, and completely absorbed the Dyna dynasty into its new chassis platform. But they weren’t quite finished, and this new Sport Glide is yet another sibling. This ninth model in the Softail family is a cut-down bagger at the more affordable end of the range, that can wear bags and a screen one minute, and neither a minute later – making it, Harley say, ideally suited for both commuting and light touring. Run of the mill The engine is the smooth and punchy Milwaukee-Eight 107, and helping push it through the air is a scaled down Batwing inspired cowl to take some blast off the rider, while leaving…

KTM boss, Stefan Pierer, confirmed to MCN last year that the new 790 Duke would be closely followed by an Adventure version – and here’s the barely-disguised prototype to prove it. With Triumph’s Tiger 800 proving a rampant success (and heavily updated for 2018, p14), while BMW also bring two new middleweight GS models (p18), there’s both appetite, and competition to meet head-on. And a middleweight Adventure model is central to KTM’s heartland. The 790 Adventure prototype looks absolutely beguiling, with typical KTM angular aggression underpinned by Dakar styling that smacks of rally domination. Using the new 799cc LC8 parallel-twin debuted in the Duke (above), it closes the gap between KTM’s enduros and their Adventure series; a modern interpretation of their market preempting 640 Adventure from 1997. KTM say it…

The new Bobber Black is far more than a paintjob, it’s the Bobber’s hot next-door neighbour. In addition to the blacking-out of almost every shiny component, it also gains cruise control and a whole new front-end. The Bobber’s 41mm KYB fork is replaced for the Black with a set of 47mm Showa cartridge forks, off which hangs a 16in front wheel (the Bobber wears a 19), wearing a fat 130/90 Avon Cobra. The Black also gets a braking upgrade with a twin 310mm disc arrangement, and more powerful Brembo two-piston axial sliding calipers (versus the Bobbers single disc and twin-pot Nissin). It’s brighter, too – with the LED headlamp as standard equipment, along with LED indicators and numberplate lamp. • Power 76bhp @ 6100rpm • Weight 237.8kg (dry) • Seat…

The Tracer 900 has been a solid tourer for the two years it’s been on sale but it was due an update and Yamaha have delivered. The changes are purely to the ride feel, so there’s a larger windscreen for increased weather protection as well as narrower bars that take your arms out of the airflow. The seat has been redesigned and now has two height options and pillions will be glad to hear there are new footrests and redesigned grab handles. The GT gets all the improvements of the standard model, while adding on some premium extras. It comes with Yamaha hard luggage as standard, which have 22l of luggage capacity. The GT also comes with a full-colour TFT dash, adjustable suspension with remote preload at the rear, a…

Yamaha say they’ve been so overwhelmed by the interest generated by the T7 concept they released last year that they’ve gone and produced another concept – this time called the World Raid. Powered by the 689cc parallel twin from the MT-07 but mated with a steel cradle frame, the Ténéré 700 is much closer to the production bike than the previous model. We know this because we’ve seen spy pics of a nearly bike in testing, which begs the question: where’s the production model? We’re all for getting people ramped up with concepts but what we needed here was not another concept. We needed an awesome middleweight. Let’s just hope that when it does finally arrive, it’s perfect – heaven knows they’ve had enough time……

BMW’s K1600GT is a technological marvel and perfect for thumping out the miles but it’s massive and bland to look at. The K1600 Bagger changed all that albeit with limited storage space, but now the Grand America solves that problem too. As the name suggests, BMW have set their sights across the pond, aiming at both the big manufacturers and their consumers. Performance-wise nothing has changed, so it’s that same turbine-like 1649cc straight six that delivers 158bhp, which mated to their impressive electronics package delivers a devastatingly fast ride. Compared to the standard K1600, the Grand America has a much more swept appearance with smaller panniers and a lower seat height, along with those all-important foot boards. The addition of a topbox with integrated brake light gives the bike that…

1 Join the final fling MotoGP, round 18 Where Valencia, Spain When Friday-Sunday, November 10-12 Entry From £127 Info www.motogp.com It’s the last round of the MotoGP for 2018 and what an amazing year it’s been. Unbelievably the championship is still open as Dovi could well pinch it from Marquez in Valencia, so if you’re only going to one race in the next 12 months, this should be it. We say Official tickets are sold out, but they’re available on plenty of fan resale websites. If you get the ferry to Santander, you can ride to the race quite comfortably without burning out your tyres on French motorways. 2 Enduro has hare flare Rogershill Enduro Where Rogershill Raceway, Dorset When Saturday, November 11 Entry Free to spectate Info…

‘Cal and Capirossi said some things, but it seems Cal has changed his mind’ When Jorge Lorenzo left the proven, title-winning, factory Yamaha team and signed for Ducati in 2017 there was a sharp, collective intake of breath from within the MotoGP paddock. On the face of it, Lorenzo a five-time world champion, three of them in MotoGP, had turned his back on the user-friendly, ultra-competitive Yamaha M1 and swapped it for a bike that was notoriously hard to ride and that had chewed up and spat out big names including Cal Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi. His decision to move split opinion, and while no-one could doubt the sublime talents of the 30-year-old Spaniard, many thought it was a step too far even for one of the current MotoGP greats.…

‘The more you ride, the more you find the GTL is perfect for 12-hour days in the saddle’ ABMW K1600GTL is an ultra-smooth, ultra-sophisticated, physics-defying lump of a motorcycle. Its 1649cc inlinesix motor lays out its 158bhp and 129ftlb like silk, yet it propels 350kg of metal and plastic forward with surprising and unrelenting force. Until we ride Honda’s new Gold Wing, the K1600GTL is the vanguard of two-wheeled executive travel. With luxurious ergonomics and continent-crushing power, the GTL boasts every conceivable extra and has been designed with luxury in mind. Its list of equipment is almost as long as its 1680mm wheelbase. Here are the highlights: with the base £20,320 LE-spec bike, plus the optional Comfort Pack, you get dynamic engine modes, traction control, ABS, quickshifter, auto-blipper, semi-active suspension,…

This is no ordinary special ride. This one is of epic proportions. Take this ride and you’ll not only be a proficient green laner, but a Dakar-trained off-road warrior – all while exploring some of the best trails, countryside, roads and off-road venues in the UK. South Wales is where adventure bikers are trained and given their wings. There are two main big bike schools ready and waiting to turn you into a dirt rider. If you’re up for the challenge (and this is a proper challenge) then start in the Brecon Beacons National Park, join the A470 from Brecon and then take the A4215. Take note of the countless daunting trails and dirt packed lanes that you pass. Within four days they’ll look like child’s play. Join the Heol…

TOOLS • Heat wrap insulation tape • Silicone spray paint • Scissors • Stainless steel jubilee clips • Old clothes • Disposable ground sheet • Latex gloves • Exhaust wrap • Bucket • Jubilee clips • Cable ties • String 1 Get everything ready Get everything ready, as you won’t want this job to drag out. This includes the wrap (we got our G-Force black wrap from textiletechnologies.co.uk), heat wrap insulation tape, silicone spray paint for heat wrapping, scissors, stainless jubilee clips, a bucket of cold water, very old clothes, gloves and a disposable ground sheet. Don’t get the wrap out just yet. 2 Plan your wrap carefully This exhaust has a break where another header pipe slots into, so the two header pipes need to be wrapped separately, which…

I’ve mentioned before that the Bobber doesn’t hold up all too well in the bad British weather. The metal engine cases almost immediately started to dull, but a bit of elbow grease and some cleaner can sort those out pretty quickly. There are, however, a couple of areas that have been suffering from rust. The tyre valves seem to be the worst culprits, as they’ve turned a very deep orange. The brakes seemed to get the odd spot of rust very early on, but I’ve kept an eye on them and they’ve not got any worse. The other are I recently noticed a few spots of rust are the finned header rings. They’re bloody awkward to get at as well because they’re finned, so I’ll have to take a bit…